Main menu

Monthly Archives: July 2015

Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word. (Psalm 119:35-37)

What a wonderful prayer God has given me to pray. God knows I am easily caught up in the pursuit of money, power, fame, and other such things. But in the end they contain nothing of value. So God has illuminated a path that leads me to true treasure. This section of Psalm 119 ends with:

How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness. (Psalm 119:40)

It states here that life is found in the goodness and rightness of God. So I pray with the psalmist that I might follow the path to the true light of life.

I feel weak and have a fragile faith.
When I reflect on the past, I see little accomplished and am disheartened.
When I consider the present, I have trouble overcoming my tendency to procrastinate.
When I think of future, I am fearful that I will fail.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

So my past is a story of God’s great grace.
My present one of seeking help to take the next step.
My future? I try to leave in the Lord’s hands.
Struggling to accept that whatever may come is from His hand,
And He will help me through it.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

I don’t understand why I’m this way.
I am only able to stumble along letting Jesus continually catch me.
When I stand before the throne, truly it will be an act of grace.

There are times when the closeness of God compels me to give praise.
This joyous epiphany is not due to anything I have done, nor can I command it.
Sometimes it follows a harrowing intervention of God, but not always.
Sometimes it occurs upon witnessing a miracle, but not always.
Sometimes it is just God comes near and I am overcome with worship.
And then even the rocks cry out, rejoicing along with me.
What a wonderful and full moment — to be overwhelmed by His presence.
A fleeting taste of the riches that await those who love, and seek Him.
But all to soon, this moment passes and I am back to living by faith.
With a photograph of rocks declaring my Lord’s majesty,
Gleaming stones to remind me of what is to come.

Oh, to have my soul still and quiet.
I cannot do this of myself.
I need someone stronger than my fears.
I need someone to take away my gnawing guilt.
Someone to forgive and remove my regret,
To quiet my shame.
Someone to quell the ugliness I have seen,
Someone who will lead me by quiet waters,
To restore my soul in innocence.
I need the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace,
To still and quiet my soul.

I looked at this Barestem Biscuitroot from all angles to capture the best picture. It wasn’t till I put the photo up on my computer that I noticed something that surprised me. If I had known at the time I probably would done things differently (like not roll around in the dirt). See if you can find the unseen. For the answer I have cropped the picture below for a closer look.

Life is full of unexpected surprises, things we never saw coming, some are pleasant surprises, unfortunately some very tragic.

A young woman came to my office, addicted to heroin, asking for help. In the course of our conversation she said, “I never saw it coming.” She was truly ashamed and shocked at her current state: using dirty needles to poke around her body looking for unscarred veins. Always fearing she might overdose, unable to care for her child, but unable to stop using. How could what started as fun end in such a hellacious web.

In life many things lurk around in the shadows of our choices, things we never see coming. The song, “I Did It My Way,” sounds good (especially when Frank Sinatra sings it), but it is misguided.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows –
And did it my way!

That is the real decision of life, to do it my way, or kneel before Jesus and do it His way. Often I do not know the full consequences of my choices, so I choose to follow the one who does.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth. (Isaiah 42:3-4)

Jesus takes what no one else wants.
He takes a meager lunch, and makes a feast for thousands.
He takes plain water, and makes the finest wine.
He takes what is worthless, and makes it cherished.
He takes weakness and through it topples strongholds.
He can take someone on their last breath, and make it last for eternity.
He can take an incurable addict, and create a beacon to shine in the night.
He can take a prostitute not worth another trick, and make her holy.
He can take a naked crazy man, and fill him with peace.
He can take a criminal at his execution, and in death bring life.
He can take my place in hell, and give me His place in heaven.
There is no hopeless soul that cannot find hope in Him.
There is no ugliness that will not yield to His goodness.
There is no hate that cannot be conquered by His love.
There is no hurt that He cannot heal.
He will not falter or be discouraged till He accomplishes all He has set out to do.
All we need do is open the door and let Him in.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev. 3:19-20)